Welding tool



Ava; s, 1952 J. S. WOLFE WELDING TOOL.

Filed March 17, 1949 VEN TOR BY 4a/awww A TTO/-P/VE' Y Patented Apr. 8, 19552 UNITED `SI'II-"ES PAT-'ENT GFFICE vWELDING 'TOOL John S.` Wolfe, Milwaukea'Wis.

Application March 17, 1949,-Serial No. 81,995

(Cl. 21S-8) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to4 Welding :tools and the like and particularlyto` the` provision therein 'of means for protecting' the operator against obnoxious fumes such-as commonly; develop' during a welding process.

When Welding beneath a stationary Ventilating hood of ample size and capacity toi effectually dispose of such fumes, the operator is amply protected. But welding is more commonly performed in situ or underrconditions which .render it impossible or unfeasible tov utilize such a hood, so that the operator is generally exposed.V to the ill eects of the fumes in spite-of efforts heretofore made to-overcome this diiiiculty. -It has been proposed to equip welding tools with fume removal devices, but as heretofore designed, such devices require positioning close to the point of weld where they seriously interfere with proper observance of the work and in some instances render it difficult or even impossible to reach the point to be welded.

One object of the present invention is to provide a welding tool having a thoroughly practical means for effecting fume-disposal without impairing accessibility, performance or observance of the work.

Other objects and advantages' will appear, expressed or implied, from the following description of a welding tool constructed inaccordance with ie present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinalf'sectional view of a welding toolembodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal sectional view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

For purposes of illustration and explanation the invention is shown and will be described as embodied in an electric welding tool of the electrode holder type, although it is applicable to other kinds of tools, such as gas welding devices.

The electrode holder shown comprises a hollow metal head l fixed to one end of a rigid tubular handle Il of insulating material, the other end of the handle being swivelly connected to a length of flexible hose l2 for a purpose to be later described. In this instance the swivel connection comprises a ferrule I3 fixed within and projecting from the rear end of the handle il and providing support for a ring I4 rotatably fitted on the errule and confined thereon by an end ange l5. The hose I2 is releasably secured to the ring I4 by suitable means such as a contheside of the headlll.

ventional hose clamp I6. AThe handle il and head-'I0 are thus rotatably adjustable ywithfrespect to the. hose l2.

V'The forward endl of the handle l I is preferably equipedwith a shield in the form of a plate -or l disk 9 loiinsulating material, which also `serves as a support or tool rest when the device is not in use.

-maybe manipulated to open the clamp and 1revlease the `'rod fl8.

The rod I8 is electrically energizedthrough the clamp-jaws- -|1 and I9 and'head mythe Alatter -being electrically connected to aA` conventional vsupply cable 25 through a bus bar 2B that extends rearwardly from the `head IG through the handle I|- and to Whichthe cable'is attached. In this instance thevbar`26 comprises afrelatively thin metal strip of a width to engage the interior of the handle in a" manner todivide' the saine into separate longitudinal channels 2l-and to also `provideadditional support for the head i0.

In the device shown the head l!) is fashioned to provide an intake nozzle capable of exhausting air froma widely extended zone, suchv as that indicated bythe broken contourv lines 1,17 and c.

'The extent 'of this zone and its lposition over the point of weld renders it eiective to entrap and remove the obnoxious fumes emanating from the Welding process in much the same manner as would a Ventilating hood of like extent similarly positioned, and making it possible to thus dispose of the fumes without requiring a close positional relation between the nozzle and the point of the weld.

In order to develop this extended exhaust zone an intake orice 28 is provided in the under side of the head IU, this orifice having an effective area materially greater than the cross-sectional area of the head I0 and being disposed at an acute angle and in close proximity to the longitudinal axis of the head, and the hose l2 is connected to a fan or other appropriate exhauster capable of inducing a high velocity air ow through the head and orifice. A linear air velocity of several thousand feet per minute through the orifice 28 has been found sufficiently high for the purpose indicated, although the actual velocity employed may vary dependent upon the extent or spread of the exhaust zone desired.

The shape or pattern of the exhaust zone is determined by the shape or contour of the orifice 28 and of the air channel or channels terminating therein. 1n order to effect a high velocity ow throughout the orifice 28 the latter is preferably divided. In this instance the orifice is divided by the forward end of the vertical strip 26 and f-urther divided by horizontal webs 29 extending lengthwise of and at opposite sides of the strip 26. The forward ends of the webs 29 are shown curved downward so as to enter the orifice 28 in a direction substantially normal thereto. As a result of this construction two upper, outwardly flared channels 2l are provided capable of exhausting air from a region extending beyond the outer end and opposite sides of the nozzle l0, and two lower, longitudinally curved channels 27" are provided capable of exhausting air from a region extending beyond the inner end and opposite sides of the nozzle.

The nozzle shown, energized by an air exhauster in the manner above described, is capable of developing an air exhaust zone of a particular pattern, substantially as indicated by the broken lines a, b and c, having an effective spread several times greater than that of the orifice 28. The outer contour line a represents a locus of points at which the air ows at a linear velocity of about one hundred feet per minute in a direction substantially normal to line a and generally toward line b. As the air converges toward the locus of points represented by line b its velocity rapidly increases and in passing across line b toward the locus of points represented by line c the velocity increases at a rapidly increasing rate until a velocity of several thousand feet per minute is attained as the air enters the orice 23 and channels 27 and 2l". It has been found that the inward air flow throughout the fringes of the exhaust zone indicated by broken line a may be relied upon to pick up and carry away any fumes that may emanate or occur within a reasonable distance beneath that zone or adjacent the fringes thereof.

From the foregoing it will be noted that a thoroughly practical welding tool has been provided having means for the effective disposal of fumes emanating from the welding process, and in which the active end of the weld rod is unencumbered by anything that could interfere with proper application thereof to the point of weld or in any manner interfere with proper observance of the Welding process. It will also be noted that thet tool handle I l is protected against excessive temperatures since any heat developed therein is effectively removed by the continuous ample flow of air therethrough throughout the welding operation. It will be further noted that the swivel connection between the hose and tool makes possible that freedom of movement so important in adjusting the weld rod to the Weld as the work progresses. l Y

Various changes may be made in the embodimentv of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a device of the character described a Wall member forming a hollow elongated nozzle, parts of said wall member being longitudinally curved and cooperating to form an outwardly aring intake opening in the side of said nozzle adjacent an end thereof, air exhaust means connected to the opposite end of said nozzle for inducing air to enter said opening and to flow through said nozzle, and lingitudinally extending dividing walls within said nozzle adjacent said side opening.

2. In a device of the character described a wall member forming a hollow elongated nozzle, parts of said wall member being longitudinally curved and cooperating to form an outwardly aring intake opening in the side of said nozzle, adjacent one end thereof said wall member also being longitudinally tapered toward the intake end of said nozzle, and longitudinally extending dividing walls within said nozzle adjacent said opening.

JOHN S. WOLFE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Switzerland Aug. 16, 1943 

